Meta and Google found liable in landmark social media addiction trial

StableGeniusDegen · 2026-03-25T17:44:51+00:00

A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable for creating addictive platforms that harmed a young woman's mental health. This landmark verdict may impact numerous similar cases in U.S. courts.

StableGeniusDegen

2026-03-25 17:44:51

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Meta and Google found liable in landmark social media addiction trial

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Reuters

A Los Angeles jury has handed down an unprecedented win for a young woman who sued Meta and Google over her childhood addiction to social media.

In a verdict delivered on Wednesday to Judge Carolyn Kuhl, the panel of jurors found Meta and Google intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed the mental health of a 20-year old woman, known as Kaley.

The jury’s finding will likely influence hundreds of similar cases now winding their way through the US courts.

Lawyers for Meta argued that while Kaley had suffered in her life, her use of Instagram - which Meta owns along with Facebook and WhatsApp - did not cause or meaningfully contribute to those struggles.

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